Illegal sand mining recurs in Dong Gang stream

Illegal sand mining

On the morning of October 1, reporters from Khanh Hoa Newspaper, Radio and Television and local people were present at Dong Gang stream, located deep in the production fields of Khanh Xuan villagers (Dien Lam commune). Following the two roads to the stream, the traces of sand trucks, excavators, tractors... were still new. In the middle of the stream, there were still vehicles serving sand pumping; along the stream banks were sand banks that had been pumped up and piled up in large piles to prepare for vehicles to transport them outside.

Area of illegal sand mining in Dong Gang stream.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Tri, who has a garden right next to Dong Gang stream, said that at 6 a.m. on October 1, two people used an excavator and a tractor to go to the stream to mine sand. Mr. Tri used his phone to record a video of the entire process of illegal sand mining by the subjects. Although Mr. Tri said he would provide all evidence to the police and local authorities, the subjects still brazenly used a vehicle to transport about 4 ^cubic meters of sand outside. “Illegal sand mining in Dong Gang stream has been going on for many years, most rampantly since the end of June and the beginning of July until now. Sand mining takes place openly, day and night. Every night, on average, there are more than 20 sand trucks, each truck carries an average of 4 - 8m3 of ^sand , transported from Dong Gang stream to the outside for consumption. With the current sand price of about 500,000 - 600,000 VND/ ^m3 , each night the subjects earn more than ten million VND. Due to the large demand for sand for construction in the market, high profits, the level of exploitation is increasingly rampant and reckless, many new roads are opened for trucks to go to the stream to illegally mine sand” - Mr. Tri reflected.

Subjects brazenly illegally exploited sand on the morning of October 1 at Dong Gang stream.

According to people in Khanh Xuan village, to open a road to Dong Gang stream to exploit sand, the subjects also directly negotiated with people who have land for production here. “I have a production land adjacent to Dong Gang stream. A few months ago, some people came to me and said that if they just let them open a road to Dong Gang stream, they will exploit 3 nights a week, about 20 trucks of sand each night, and for each truck of sand they will pay me 500,000 VND. They will repair the damaged road, and when the authorities come, they will take responsibility. However, because I know this is a violation of the law, I refused to allow the road to be opened to exploit sand on my family's land" - a resident of Khanh Xuan village said.

Urgently check and handle

Sand mining in Dong Gang stream has been going on for many years, local people have reported to the local authorities but this situation continues to recur. In the past 2 months, this area has had heavy rains so the sand from upstream has been deposited along Dong Gang stream more and more, sand mining has become more and more rampant. The subjects use vacuum cleaners to suck sand from the stream bed and pile it up in piles, and at convenient times they will bring in vehicles to transport it outside. According to the reporter's records, along both banks of Dong Gang stream are currently fields, perennial crops, fruit trees... of local people. The continuous sand mining has caused the land on both banks of the stream to erode, encroaching deeper and deeper into people's production land.

Illegal sand mining vehicle on the morning of October 1 at Dong Gang stream.

Illegal sand mining vehicles on the morning of October 1 at Dong Gang stream.

On October 1, the reporter reported and provided images and videos about the illegal sand mining situation in Dong Gang stream to Mr. Le Van Hiep - Chairman of Dien Lam Commune People's Committee. Mr. Hiep said that currently, along Dong Gang stream, no organization or individual has been licensed to mine sand and gravel from the stream bed. By October 2, Dien Lam Commune authorities had inspected the scene in Dong Gang stream, demolished the gathering points, and seized more than ^10m3 of sand. In the coming time, the commune authorities will invite the subjects present in the sand mining video to work and handle them according to the law. At the same time, they will continue to inspect and review all other river and stream areas under their management.

Recently, the Provincial People's Committee has issued many directive documents, assigning the Provincial Police, Department of Agriculture and Environment, Department of Construction, and Commune People's Committees to strengthen inspection and examination of sand and gravel exploitation and use activities on riverbeds; resolutely stop exploitation, close mines, renovate and restore the environment in areas of ineffective operation, causing pollution; take effective measures to prevent and strictly handle acts of illegal exploitation, transportation and trading of sand and gravel of unknown origin; absolutely do not allow the situation of taking advantage of dredging and clearing channels to illegally exploit minerals. The Provincial People's Committee also directed units to review and handle projects that affect flood drainage, riverbank erosion, and endanger the safety of riverside works. The Chairman of the Commune People's Committee is responsible to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee if illegal sand and gravel exploitation occurs or causes environmental pollution in the management area. Therefore, the authorities of Dien Lam commune need to strengthen management and thoroughly handle the current illegal sand mining situation in Dong Gang stream in particular and in the area in general.

THAI THINH

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/xa-hoi/202510/tai-dien-khai-thac-cat-trai-phep-o-suoi-dong-gang-2b624fc/